Happy Labor Day and End of Summer Recipe Recommendations

The traditional end of the summer is here. In many areas of the country, it is back to school time too. Grilling is almost over, and thoughts turn to crock pots, tailgating, and leaves. Molly and Lilly love leaves. Here are some top recipe recommendations.

I present for your consideration a few great simple ways to cap off the "traditional" summer season. As a bonus, a funny Labor Day story at the end of the post.

FOOD SAFETY

Before we start, a few food safety reminders. So easy to forget. It is up to you to keep your friends and family safe. I see dangerous food handling on TV food shows and other blogs frequently. So know the rules. PLEASE.

As a start, please review my Holiday Food Safety post. Let’s be safe out there. No, Uncle Joe cannot have his burger rare even though you wouldn’t mind seeing him sick. It is your responsibility to keep them all safe.

Grill How To Do's

How to Grill a Hamburger – A Beginner Tutorial

How to Grill a Strip Steak on a Gas Grill

How to Grill Pork Chops on a Gas Grill

How to BBQ Skinless Boneless Chicken Breast on a Gas Grill

Oven Recipes if you are lazy like me. (Rain predicted)

Oven Pulled Pork from Pork Butt - My most common way to cook a pork butt. It is just so easy. I'm doing it today.

Crispy Garlic Grilled Split Chicken Breast

Oven Baked Chicken Legs – The Art of Drummies

Now the promised funny story. We shall call this "My Bad."

When I first started my private practice 40 years ago, I started in mid-August, and the other pediatrician went on vacation (his first is over a year) a week later.

I was left to see patients and to make all business decisions. It was the Friday before Labor Day, and I was saying good night to the employees and told them I would see them on Monday. A huge scream went up.

Them: "No, Tuesday"

Me:"Monday"

Them: (very loudly) "Tuesday, Monday is Labor Day."

Me: "So"

Them: "It's a holiday."

Me: "No"

Them: "YES"

Me: "A real holiday????  I thought it was like Ground Hog Day or Columbus Day."

Them: "See you TUESDAY," they all shook their heads as they walked out snickering.

Me: "hummmm ok."

In my defense, I have just come out of years of medical training working 80 to 100 hours per week. There were two holidays only, Fourth of July and Christmas and you got one off. All the rest were equal. Meaning, you worked. My bad, I guess.

I put that in just to see if anybody got this far.

So relax and enjoy yourself. Grill a hot dog and have some ice cream. Enjoy your family and reflect on the summer and plan for the fall.

DrDan

Originally Published August 31, 2014

This post is reused yearly but is edited and updated yearly. Some comments may be from previous years